Mortar applicator



Dec. 29, 1964 J. R. wlsE 3,162,886

MORTAR APPLICATOR Filed April 26. 1963 l, 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gj 7. L f" INVENTOR 334%, 4o im IAME-SYE. Wise 45 P//Wfmmf MM# www I\\%- '5 ATToszN evs Dec. 29, 1964 J. R. wlsE 3,162,886

MORTAR APPLICATOR Filed April 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOQNEYS United States Patent O 3,152,336 MRAR APPLCATGR .l ames Roy Wise, Bowmansviiie, 13a. Filed Apr. 25, 1%3, Ser. No, 275,135@ Slainis. (Cl. lei-547) This invention relates to mortar spreading devices and more particularly to a device for laying mortar upon the marginal portions of cinder blocks, bricks, or similar objects, during the erection of buildings or Walls composed of such bricks or blocks.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device for dispensing mortar and for properly depositing the mortar on the top marginal portions of cinder blocks, bricks, or the like, the device being simple in construction, being easy to operate, and being adjustable to provide a desired spacing between the strips or layers of mortar dispensed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for laying a pair of spaced strips or layers of mortar on the front and rear marginal portions of cinder blocks, or similar objects, the device being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, being sturdy in construction, providing economical utilization of the mortar, and providing layers of mortar of uniform thickness and of proper consistency to insure an efficient bond between the blocks above and below layers of mortar.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved mortar applicator for dispensing a pair of spaced continuous strips or layers of mortar on the top Inarginal portions of cinder blocks, or similar objects, the device requiring a minimum amount of human labor, being of substantially balanced construction, and providing close control over the spacing of the two layers of mortar dispensed thereby.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FGURE l is `a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in operation.

FGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FGURE 5 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the gearing elements between the driving motor and the vrnortar-dispensing augers, as employed in the device of FIGURS l to 4.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved mortar dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 1t comprises a mortar-receiving hopper 12 provided at its top rim with a longitudinally extending supporting bar 13, said supporting bar having a longitudinal slot 1d defining parallel bar segments, said bar segments being formed with transversely aligned apertures 15' adapted to receive a connection pin i6 which may therefore be selectively located along the bar 13, The pin 16 is adapted t0 be engaged by a supporting hook 17 attached :to a suitable trolley device, not shown, for moving the hopper l2 along a course of cement blocks i8 forming part of a Wall structure 19 being erected.

The supporting means comprising the aforesaid trolley structure is conventional per se and in itself forms no part of the present invention except that it is arranged to move the hopper 12 along a path parallel to and above the course or" blocks 1S, and the hopper is provided with means, presently to be described, for accurately guiding same along the wall structure 19.

fidhh Patented Dec. 29, 19%4 As shown in FIGURES l and 3, the hopper 12 is generally rectangular in plan and tapers downwardly in cross section, the walls of the hopper converging towards a distributing portion 20 which contains a longitudinally extending dividing rib 2l whose top edge slopes downwardly and forwardly, namely, downwardly and to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The spaces defined on opposite sides of the dividing rib 21 extend downwardly into respective downwardly and forwardly inclined auger compartments, shown at 22, 22, said compartments leading to respective downwardly and forwardly inclined mortar outlet conduits 23, 23 which terminate in forwardly convergent frusto-conical discharge portions 24, 24.

Adjustably connected to the discharge portions 24, 24 are respective generally fuiste-conical forwardly tapering mortar outlet nozzles 25, 25, said nozzles being provided with connection anges 26 at their larger ends which are arranged so that the axes of the nozzles 2S are at acute angles to .the planes of the respective ilanges 26. rfhe nozzles are clamped to the ends of the respective conduit discharge portions 24 by clamping rings 27 engaging over the anges 26 and threadedly engaged on the ends of the discharge portions 24, so that the nozzles 25 can be rigidly clamped to the ends of the conduit portions 2d in desired positions of angular adjustment around the axes of the respective conduit portions 2d, 24, thus providing a means for adjusting the spacing between the outlet ends of the discharge nozzles 25, 25. Thus, for maximum spacing between the vends of the nozzles 25, 25, said nozzles will be adjusted so that their axes lie in the same plane, and diverge forwardly at a maximum angle. The spacing between the nozzle ends can be reduced from this maximum value to a value wherein the axes of the nozzles 25, 25 are forwardly convergent and in the same plane. The spacing between the discharge ends of the nozzles 25, 25 can be adjusted to provide any value between the aforesaid maximum and minimum spacing values.

1iigidly secured to the conduit portions 24, 24 at their top surfaces is a transversely extending sleeve member 27 in which is adjustably secured a transversely extending sleeve 2S in which is adjustably secured a transverse guide bar 29, the sleeve being provided with `a clamping screw 3) to lock the guide bar 29 therein at a position of desired adjustment, The transverse guide bar 29 is provided at its end with a depending arm 3l to whose lower end is rigidly secured a follower plate 32 extending in `a plane perpendicular to the bar 29 and adapted to engage the vertical surface of the wall structure t9, as shown in FGURE l, to guide the hopper 12 along said wall surface. With the plate 32 in sliding engagement with the vertical surface of the wall surface 19, the layers of mortar emerging from the nozzle elements 25, 25 will be deposited along lines extending parallel to the wall structure t9, namely, will be deposited on the opposite top longitudinal marginal portions of the cement blocks 1S when the hopper is moved along the wall structure.

Respective feed augers 33, 33 are longitudinally journaled in the auger channels 22, 22, the forward ends of the augers extending through and being rotatably supported in the outlet conduit portions 23 and 2d, and the rear ends of Ithe augers extending into and being rotatably supported in a gear box 34 bolted to transversely extending rear anges 35 provided on the lower portion of hopper i2 at the rear ends of the auger channels 22, 22.

An electric driving motor assembly 3S is clampingly secured on a rearwardly extending supporting plate 36 rigidly secured to and forming a part of the gear box assembly, the motor shaft being drivingly connected through gearing contained in the gear box 34 to the respective feed augers 33, 33. Thus, as shown in FlG- URE 5, the augers 33, 33 may be provided at their rear ends with driving gears 4d, 40 which are gearingly conaieafsae 3 nected to a longitudinally extending shaft 41 by a pinion gear 42 provided on the forward end of shaft 41 and meshing between the auger gears 4b, 40, The shaft 41, which is journaled in thegear box 34, is provided at its rear end with a transmission gear 43 which meshes with a pair of idlers 44, 44 journaled in the gear boX, which in turn mesh with a driving pinion 45 secured on the end of the power input shaft 46 of the gear box. The input shaft 45 is drivingly coupled by means of a conventional chuck 47 to the shaft of the electric motor assembly 35.

It will be seen from FIGURE that a balanced transmission of torque is provided through the gear arrangement comprising the gears 4S, 44, 44 and 43 for drivingly connecting the input shaft 46 to the shaft 41,(and that in turn balanced driving torque is provided to the auger members 33, 33 through the pinion 42 and the auger drive gears 4l), 4l).

In operation, the nozzle members 25, 25 are suitably adjusted, in the manner above described, to provide the desired spacing between their discharge ends, and the guide bar 29 is also adjusted in .the sleeve 28 to properly locate the discharge ends of the nozzles 25, 25 so that they will deliver layers of mortar Sil, 50 to the top longitudinal marginal portions of the cement blocks 1S with theV plate 32 in follower engagement with the vertical surface of the wall structure 19. A quantity of mortar 52 is provided in the hopper 12. With the driving motor assembly 3S energized, the mortar will be distributed and dispensed through the augerl chambers 22 downwardly and forwardly through the nozzle elements 25, 25 and will be deposited on the longitudinal top marginal portions of the blocks 1S as the hopper is moved along the wall structure, as above described, laying a pair of parallel ribbons or strips of mortar on the cement blocks so that it is not necessary to trowel the mortar or otherwise manipulate same. This enables the succeeding course of blocks to be laid directly onto the mortar, requiring only the vertical joints between :the cement blocks to be manually applied.

As will be readily apparent, due to the fact that the mortar is mo 'ed mechanically and is somewhat compressed as it is extruded from'the ends of the nozzle elements 25, 25, the mortar is relatively of dense consistency as it is laid on the subjacent cement blocks 18 and is of substantially uniform consistency and compactness,

After laying the strips of mortar 56, 5@ on the full course -of subjacent cement blocks 1S, the hopper may be elevated and returned to the starting point, in preparation for depositing mortar on the next course of blocks 18.

While a specific embodiment of an improved` apparatus for simultaneouslyV depositing layers of mortar on the opposite top marginal portions of cement blocks of a Wall srtucture has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined bythe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for simultaneously depositing layers of Amortar on opposite top marginal portions of cement blocks of a Wall structure comprising a hopper adapted to be supported above and moved along a course of cement blocks on said wall structure, said hopperV being provided with a pair of outlet nozzles spaced to deposit material from the hopper on opposite marginal portions of the cement blocks, means to adjust the spacing between Yd the outlet nozzles in accordance with the desired spacing of the layers of material to be deposited from the hopper, and respective feed angers in the outlet nozzles.

2. An apparatus for simultaneously depositing layers of mortar on opposite top marginal portions of cement blocks of a wall structure comprising a hopper adapted to be supported above and moved along a course of cement blocks on said wall structure,V said hopper being provided with a pair of spaced outlet nozzles, means to adjust the spacing between the outlet nozzles in accordance with the desired spacing of the layers of material to be deposited from 4the hopper, respective feed augers in the outlet nozzles, a drive motor supported by the hopper, respective driving gears connected to the angers, and means gearingly coupling said motor to said driving gears.

3. An apparatus for simultaneously depositing layers of mortar on opposite .top marginal portions of cement blocks of a Wall structure comprising a hopper adapted to be supported above and moved along a course of cement blocks on said wall structure, said hopper being provided with a pair of parallel inclined outlet conduit portions, respective fuiste-conical outlet nozzles, means adjustably securing said outlet nozzles at their larger ends to the ends of said outlet conduit portions with the axes of the nozzles at substantial angles to the axes of said outlet conduit portions, whereby the spacing of the discharge ends of the outlet nozzles may be adjusted to deposit material from the hopper on opposite marginal portions of the cement blocks, respective feed augers in the outlet conduit portions, a drive motor supported by the hopper, and means drivingly connecting said motor to said feed angers.

4. An apparatus for simultaneously depositing layers of mortar on opposite top marginal portions of cement blocks of a wall structure comprising a hopperradapted to be supported above and moved along a course of cement blocks on said wall structure, said hopper being provided with a pair of parallel inclined outlet conduit portions, respective frusto-conical outlet nozzles, means adjustably securing said outlet nozzles at their larger ends to the ends of said outlet conduit portions with the axes of the nozzles at substantial angles to the axes of said outlet conduit portions, whereby the spacing of the discharge ends of `the outlet nozzles may be adjusted to deposit material from the hopper on oppositemarginal portions of the cement blocks, respective feed augers in the outlet conduit portions, a drive motor supported by the hopper, means drivingly connecting said motor to said feed angers, a gnlide bar secured to said hopper, a depending vertical arm at one endof said guide bar, and a follower plate on the lower end of said vertical arm engageable with a vertical surface of the wall structure.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, which includes in addition means carried by said hopper and engageable with the vertical surface of the wall structure for guiding the hopper along the wall structure.

Refer-enses Cited in the file of this patent yUNITED STATES PATENTS Vita a Nov. 16, 1954 ScarlY Oct. 21, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPOSISTING LAYERS OF MORTAR ON OPPOSITE TOP MARGINAL PORTIONS OF CEMENT BLOCKS OF A WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A HOPPER ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED ABOVE AND MOVED ALONG A COURSE OF CEMENT BLOCKS ON SAID WALL STRUCTURE, SAID HOPPER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF OUTLET NOZZLES SPACED TO DEPOSIT MATERIAL FROM THE HOPPER ON OPPOSITE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE CEMENT BLOCKS, MEANS TO ADJUST THE SPACING BETWEEN THE OUTLET NOZZLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DESIRED SPACING OF THE LAYERS OF MATERIAL TO BE DEPOSITED FROM THE HOPPER, AND RESPECTIVE FEED AUGERS IN THE OUTLET NOZZLES. 